We're Adopting!

Welcome to our blog! We have exciting news! We are adopting from Ethiopia!! God has been stirring our hearts for quite some time...It began in Jan. '09 when I first read Katie's blog at www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. Honestly, it rocked my world. Her candidness and honesty pierced my heart. I was convicted and encouraged to press into God all at the same time. I knew there had to be something more.....I mean honestly, I have all I ever wanted...great husband, one boy and one girl, a super teaching job at an amazing school, house, dog, cats, great church, you name it.....However, I knew God was calling me to more.

I read the book, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. If you haven't read that book, I highly recommend it. It is all about being called to action and being a true Christ-follower--stepping out of your comfort zone. I realized that I had been living in a kind of "bubble". I do know that I am happiest when I am giving to others...Trevis read the book too and we had some good discussions. Time passed and later in the summer, I began to feel a "pressing to adopt". I asked Trevis and he said, "no way!" initially.

It was funny b/c everywhere we would go, something would go back to adoption. Greg Smalley came to our church and mentioned praying for his little girl he was adopting from China...A few weeks later, Guy Penrod (from the Gaither's) came and sang. Some of the lyrics were, "Who's gonna love them? Who's gonna show them?" I treasured these things in my heart and excitement began to build. Fast-forward to November. A friend of mine told me about the Orphan Sunday at a church in Franklin, where Steven Curtis Chapman would be. I anxiously awaited until the Gospel Music Channel put the event on their webpage. Trevis and I sat down to watch the two hour program. It was fantastic.

In the meanwhile, Trevis had been praying. At the completion of the program, he said to me that he knew we were supposed to adopt, but he was scared. You see, our son has Asperger Syndrome (on the autism spectrum) and quite frankly, it can be exhausting at times. I knew we had to do it afraid...He did tell me though, "Honey, you can't do anything until after Thanksgiving". Sooo.....the Monday after Thanksgiving I began calling around (foster care programs, domestic adoption, and international adoption. It wasn't until Dec. 22nd that we knew that we knew that we knew we were supposed to adopt from Ethiopia. So, HOORAY!! We have confirmation and have been approved. Join us on our journey. I'll add some other posts this week on other exciting things that have happened over the past month...